TNAG-1327-FCO40-1740-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Ministerial-statements-1984 — Page 75

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I. REPORT

BY THE COMMISSIONER, ASSESSMENT OFFICE ON THE VIEWS

EXPRESSED IN HONG KONG ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE

GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

Presented to the Governor of Hong Kong November 1984, Hong Kong

His Excellency Sir Edward Youde, GCMG, MBE, Governor of Hong Kong,

Hong Kong.

Sir,

Assessment Office, FLOOR LG-3,

SUPREME COURT BLDG, 38 QUEENSWAY,

HONG KONG.

23RD NOVEMBER 1984

The Assessment Office was established on 1st September 1984 with your appointment of the Commissioner.

2. Accommodation was provided by the Hong Kong Government in the newly completed Supreme Court Building where, with the kind agreement of the Chief Justice, a whole floor was made available to us. I should like to record my appreciation of the help given to us by the Registrar, Supreme Court, and his staff in making the necessary arrangements for us to move in. The first half of September was spent working out procedures and acquiring the necessary staff and equipment so that we were ready to start work well before September 26th when the White Paper on the draft agreement was published.

3. The period allowed for the expression of views in Hong Kong on the draft agreement was from the evening of the 26th September to 15th November 1984, just over seven weeks. As our report is to be published in London and Hong Kong by the end of November, very little time was available to us for its preparation. That we were able to complete it in time is entirely due to the hard work and determination of every member of the team of local officers seconded from the Hong Kong Government to form the staff of the Assessment Office. They have tackled this unique task with a high degree of enthusiasm and dedication.

4. The Hong Kong Government has readily made available all the resources of staff and equipment we have requested even though this has meant requiring other departments to make do without these resources during the assessment exercise; for this we are grateful.

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